I am so excited to have author Sheila Roberts here at the Reading Nook to chat about her newest book in her delightful Moonlight Harbor series.
Sitting down with Sheila Roberts and getting the scoop on Mermaid Beach:
Tell us about Mermaid Beach, who is the main character(s) and what can we expect when we pick it up?
This book as three main characters, all members of the band The Mermaids. We have our central figure, Bonnie Brinks, who has a past she'd as soon keep in the past, her daughter Avril, who is sure she can make it in Nashville (Her mother's sure she'll get her heart broken, and she should know!). And then there's Loretta, the grand dame of the group, Bonnie's mom and Avril's grandmother. Loretta is one hot granny and playing drums keeps her fit. And when it comes to love, she never gives up. Although she's about to get taken for a ride (and not the kind you find at Disneyland!)
Who are some authors that you look to for inspiration?
I have many good friends who are writers. I must say Debbie Macomber is a huge inspiration to me. She's not only a prolific writer, she's also a smart businesswoman and a kind and generous friend, and has been a mentor to me for years. Susan Wiggs is another writer I admire. Her writing is beautiful and she's brilliant.
If someone were to narrate your life, who would you want the narrator to be and why?
I have no idea! My life, like everyone else's if full of everyday routine, with a few wild adventures and struggles thrown in between.
Which of your characters would you want to share a campfire with, and why?
Ooh, a campfire? Would we get to roast marshmallows? I'd probably want to sit by the campfire with Bonnie. Like her, I spent some time in Nashville, chasing that songwriting dream. I wound up a writer instead, but there's something about that whole music thing that gets in your blood.
Tell us about what you are reading at the moment or anticipate reading in the future?
I recently finished a fascinating novel, The Widow by Kaira Rouda - a fascinating, twisty tale, with some downright nasty main characters in it. The main character was awful... but I couldn't stop turning the page. I'll be reading more books by this author. Meanwhile, it's on to The Plant Paradox - I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction.
How long did it take you to get your rough draft finished on your latest release?
I have to write that pretty fast as I need to allow time for revisions.Fourth months to bang out the story - and then the real work begins.
Do you have a favorite quote from Mermaid Beach?
I do, as a matter of fact: "Love trumps everything. It's what music was made for."
What led you to becoming an author?
I've been writing all my life, since I was a child, and even though I did want to go another direction and pursue a music career, this is what I wound up doing. I think I'm right where I was meant to be!
What was the inspiration behind your latest book, Mermaid Beach? What sparked the idea?
The Mermaids had had a menition in an earlier book in my Moonlight Harbor series, and then Bonnie had been a minor character in Sand Dollar Lane. I think it was time to tell her story. And it was fun for me to delve back into the world of music. Everything goes so much more smoothly when it's fiction!
Title: Mermaid Beach (Moonlight Harbor Series
Book 7)
Author: Sheila Roberts
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
BOOK
BLURB:
Bonnie
Brinks and her all-woman band, The Mermaids, are the pride of Moonlight Harbor.
They're the house band at The Drunken Sailor, and that's just the right amount
of fame for Bonnie. A lifetime ago, she went to Nashville to make it big, but
she returned home with a broken heart and broken dreams. Now she's got a
comfortable life and a brilliant daughter, Avril, who plays for The Mermaids
alongside Bonnie and Bonnie's mother, Loretta.
Avril has big dreams of her own. Her life in Moonlight
Harbor is good--she loves singing and playing guitar with The Mermaids, and she
has the sweetest, most loyal boyfriend a girl could ask for--but it all feels
so...small. She can't help wondering if there's something more out there for
her. And she doesn't understand why her mom won't support her going to
Nashville to find out.
Meanwhile, Bonnie threw in the towel on her love life long
ago, but Loretta sure hasn't. She's determined to be swept off her feet, and
she wants the same for her daughter. When the hunky new owner of The Drunken
Sailor turns the tables on the band and Avril announces she's leaving Moonlight
Harbor, Bonnie's comfortable life seems to be drifting away. Will these three
generations of Mermaids find their happy endings on the Washington coast? Or
will the change in the winds leave them all shipwrecked?
"Blooming
with heartfelt charm and swoon-worthy moments..." Woman’s World Magazine
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3D61pi2
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3J0dGs0
Target: https://bit.ly/3wlLGaS
Walmart: https://bit.ly/3XFUB2c
Apple: https://apple.co/3kvheIu
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61214883-mermaid-beach
Book Excerpt:
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? MEET J.J. AND BONNIE
It was a pleasant ride to the beach. Once he
was off I-5 he was on highways that took him through stands of evergreens and
logging towns with small houses, many of them forty years old, many of which
were being refurbished.
Then he hit Moonlight Harbor with its crazy
stone pillars at the entrance, still standing from when the town was first
developed in the sixties. The place was a mixture of funky old and upbeat new,
the buildings from both eras catering to visitors with restaurants, moped
rentals, shops and a fun plex that offered bumper cars and go-carts for entertainment.
A family of deer grazed on the grass in the meridian between the two one-way
streets running through the town.
Another ten minutes and he was pulling into
the driveway of Lee’s beach digs, a three-bedroom rambler with rock for lawn
encased in a white picket fence. Lee and his wife were ready for him with a
proper Thanksgiving leftover meal of turkey sandwiches, dressing and gravy, and
cranberry sauce. Seeing the way they looked at each other about gave him
heartburn.
His ex had looked at him like that about a
million years ago. Stupid, fool him. He was a walking morality tale, an example
of what happened when a man wound up married to his job instead of his woman.
If only she’d given him a fair chance to right that ship.
“How’s your sandwich?” Glinda asked.
“Great,” he said. “Thanks. And thanks for
inviting me down.”
“Sometimes a man’s gotta get some new
scenery,” said Lee.
After they ate Glinda made them clean up the
kitchen and left to check on things at the pub for Lee and hang out with some
girlfriends.
“She’s a great woman,” J.J. said.
“That she is,” agreed Lee. “They’re still out
there, dude.”
J.J. gave a cynical chuckle. “Yeah, I’m
holding my breath.”
“While you’re holding your breath let’s play
some cribbage. Tomorrow I’ll take you out to eat.”
They settled down with whiskey and cards and
it was a pleasant evening. It sure beat sitting around the condo wondering if
he ought to check out an internet dating site.
Saturday found him out on the beach in boots
and a thick jacket with his buddy, working a clam gun to capture the elusive
razor clam. A weak sun was out and the sand was damp and muddy and the air was
crisp. A perfect day. They weren’t the only ones who thought so. The beach was
thick with people, all in search of the same delight.
“You should move down here,” Lee said, as he
tossed a clam in their bucket. He wasn’t much taller than J.J. and was built
like a tank. In their college days he’d mowed down his opponents on the
football field just like one. He’d gotten his education thanks to a college
scholarship. J.J. had waited tables and worked in restaurant kitchens. Glinda
had already informed him he would be in charge of making the clam chowder for
lunch.
“Yeah? So I can grow moss like you? It’s
always wet.”
“Not in the summer.”
“Yeah, well let me know when you figure out
how to make it summer all year long,” J.J. said.
“Oh, come on. You know you loved it when we
went over to Westhaven and went fishing.”
“Just thinking about that halibut we caught
makes my mouth water,” J.J. said.
“Fishing, clamming, kayaking on the canals,
golfing – it’s the life.”
J.J. brushed the sand off his hands and
studied his friend. “Why do I feel like I’m sitting in on a time share pitch?”
Lee shrugged and chuckled. “Just sayin’ it’s a
good life down here.”
“For you. You got a great wife and your
daughters live nearby.”
Lee sobered. “It sucks that things went
sideways with Eloise.”
“It’s been three years. I’m over it.”
“Yeah? You sure?”
“Sure I’m sure. My life’s good. I like my
freedom. Got no woman nagging me, no obligations.”
“That bad, huh?”
J.J. gave a rueful smile and shook his head.
“Okay, so it’s not perfect.”
“Maybe you need a change.”
“Okay, what’s the hidden agenda?”
“No hidden agenda,” Lee said and suddenly got
busy checking to see if they’d reached their limit of clams.
Yep, there was a hidden agenda.
Glinda proved it when, after lunch she said,
“Aren’t you tired of city living yet, J.J.?”
He set down his glass of beer and looked from
one to the other. “Spill, you two. What’s up?”
They exchanged guilty looks. “Well,” Lee said,
“Just thought you might be interested in a new business opportunity.”
“Oh, no. You got sucked into a pyramid
scheme,” J.J. said in horror.
Lee made a face. “No.”
“The pub’s failing. You need a silent partner.
No problem.” It would be the least he could do. He’d helped his buddy get into
this mess.
J.J. had come down to Moonlight Harbor ten
years earlier when his pal had told him about the little beach town pub he
wanted to buy, had looked over the books with Lee and the owner, then given it
a thumbs up, although he’d been concerned about Lee getting into the restaurant
business.
“It’s a tough business,” he’d cautioned. “When
you buy a restaurant, it owns you.” He knew that from personal experience.
“I can make a go of it,” Lee had said. “We
want out of the city and Glinda’s up for it.”
“Okay, then,” J.J. had said.
He’d shared his expertise with his friend and
Lee had done okay. But they hadn’t talked much in the last couple of years.
Between getting divorced and getting his feet back under him J.J. had been a
little distracted. Obviously, Lee’s investment had gone south.
“The pub’s doing great,” Lee said.
Well, so much for that conclusion. “Then
what’s up?”
“What’s up is that it’s time to sell the
business. The girls are grown and one’s had the nerve to move out of state.
Glinda wants to start traveling.”
“You want your life back.”
Lee chuckled. “Something like that. I was
thinking maybe you might want yours back, too.”
So this was where they were going. J.J. held
up a hand. “Oh, no. No more restaurants. Too much work.”
“Yeah, and you’re so busy.”
“I’ll admit I’m kind of at loose ends, but I
don’t think I want to work that hard.”
“I’ve already done all the hard work.”
“Yeah, right.” When you owned a business, it
owned you. And restaurants …
“Never mind,” said Lee. “Let’s go play some
pool. You can check out the house band.”
“You got a house band? What are they, a bunch
of grungy kids in their twenties?”
Lee smiled at that. “Not quite. It’s a chick
band.”
“A chick band. Interesting. So, three grungy
chicks in their twenties.”
“Nope. Mother, daughter and granddaughter.
They had another but she’s off to Nashville to try and become a star. They’re
still good though, especially the lead singer. That woman sings like an angel,
sometimes like a little devil. And she is something fine to look at. They’ve
really been packing in the crowds on the weekend.”
“That’s good.”
“The place is doing well,” said Lee. “I know
you shouldn’t do business with friends, but since you were in the restaurant
business and since you’re the man with the business degree, I thought I’d give
you first crack at it.” He suddenly looked wistful. “I kind of hate to let the
place go. It’s like losing a part of me.”
J.J. nodded. “I know how you feel. I hated to
let go of my places. Did it all for nothing,” he said bitterly.
His words brought on an awkward silence. He
should have kept his shit to himself. He shook off the downer moment. “Let’s
shoot some pool.”
“Good idea,” said Lee. “And, J.J., I get you
not wanting to get sucked into this business again. I’d have liked you to be
the one who takes over The Drunken Sailor, but no worries. The right owner will
show up.”
Maybe the right owner had showed up, J.J.
thought as they drank beer and waited their turn at one of the pool tables. The
place was packed. Lots of out of towners, but Lee said he had a ton of regulars
who came in during the week as well. Line dancing lessons were offered on
Sunday afternoons followed by line dancing. A lot of the old guys came in
mid-week to play darts and Lee had recently started a Ladies night, with
half-off on drinks on Tuesdays and pool lessons taught by some of the better
players, including a guy named Seth Waters, who had been regular before he got
married. According to Lee, he still came in to play pool on Sundays while his
wife and her girlfriends line danced.
“You’ve done a great job of making this the
place to be,” J.J. said as they moved to take their turn at a table that had
opened up.
“I like to think so,” said Lee. “Thank God I
got lots of good free advice from a pro when I first started.
“What are friends for?” J. J. responded. He
selected a cue stick and chalked it up.
“Go ahead and break,” Lee said.
J.J. took aim at the cue ball, sending it
clacking into the others. He sunk one of the striped ones and then proceeded to
clean the table.
“Save some for me,” Lee protested.
“Oh, yeah, I can’t let you lose. It would hurt
your delicate feelings,” J.J. taunted.
“And then I’d hurt your delicate nose,” Lee
shot back.
J.J. did miss the next ball. He stood back and
let Lee take his turn.
It was the end of the game for him because he
caught sight of a woman with long, red hair, a face that would launch a
thousand ships, and legs that wouldn’t quit walking into the place. She wore a
short black leather jacket, hanging open to reveal a lowcut green top cover a
very nice rack. Those fine legs were encased in tight jeans. She wore black
boots that made him think of pirates and was carrying a guitar case. Holy Moly!
Was that a member of the band Lee had told him about?
Lee caught him staring. “That’s Bonnie Brinks,
one of The Mermaids.”
“I wouldn’t mind hooking her on my line.”
“Fat chance. She’s a smiling ice maiden. Been
single for years.”
“Maybe she’s tired of being single,” J.J.
mused.
“Don’t hold your breath. But hey, she sure
dresses up the place.”
“That was probably about all she did. Lee had
a tin ear. He’d probably hired the woman for her looks.
Behind her came a younger woman, tall like
Bonnie but with darker coloring. Also a looker. And next to her walked a woman
who’d never gotten the memo that she was a senior citizen, also wearing tight
jeans and heels high enough to trip Tina Turner. She sported spiky white hair
and the tips of the spikes were colored green. The mother. His mother sure
didn’t look like that. This woman probably had every old geezer in the place
ready to take her out. With all three women being so striking maybe nobody
cared what they sounded like.
“Had enough pool?” asked Lee.
“I think I’ll go over to the bar and get
another drink,” J.J. said.
He snagged the last seat at the bar, one near
the end next to a scruffy old dude in faded jeans and a peacoat, ordered
another beer, and watched as the women tuned up. They couldn’t sound as good as
they looked.
“The band’s good,” the old guy said. “They
sing good, too,” he said and chortled over his crack.
“You know them?” J.J. asked.
“Of course. Everybody knows everybody here,”
the old guy informed him.
“Looks like this is a popular place,” J.J.
observed.
“Best burgers in town. Plus they have a senior
menu.”
Lee came up behind J.J., hovering like a
salesman in a used car lot. “Hey there, Pete. I see you’ve met my pal J.J. This
is Pete,” Lee said to J.J. “He’s one of our regulars. He won our last darts
tournament.”
“Beat out all the young pups,” Pete bragged.
“You play darts?” he asked J.J.
“Don’t take the bait,” said Lee. “He’ll just
sucker you into a friendly wager and take your shirt.”
“Aw, there you go, spoilin’ my fun,” Pete
complained.
A full house and steady patrons. It would be
kind of cool to own this pub. A lot of work and time consuming, but it wasn’t
like he had much going on in his life anyway other than some day trading,
hitting the gym and reading. In the last year he’d bought enough books to stock
a small library. He needed something more to do. Lately, he felt like he was drifting
with no purpose, no adventure on the horizon. What kind of adventures could he
have here in Moonlight Harbor?
At nine on the dot the hot redhead stepped up
to the mike and said, “Hey everyone, let’s get this party started.” She looked
back at the granny on the drums, who began to bang her drumsticks together,
counting off the beat, then the young girl hit the bass and the redhead began
to bend those guitar strings all to hell. People rushed to the dance floor as
she started to sing. “Get off your chair and get out here and shake your booty.
You gotta start this party, so get out there and do your duty.”
J.J.’s heart went into overdrive. This place
was a goldmine and Bonnie Brinks was the gold. What a voice! The woman was a
super star. He wondered what she was doing buried in the sand of a small beach
town.
“So whaddya think? The place is a good
investment, right?”
“I’d say so,” said J.J. “Looks like the band
is bringing in a lot of customers.”
“We had a lot of customers even before the
band,” Lee said. “People want to eat at a casual place with lots of atmosphere
when they’re at the beach.”
“You definitely got the atmosphere,” J.J.
said. The goofy carved pirate statues were an obvious hit. He’d seen several
people taking pictures with them. The pool tables had been in constant use
since they’d walked in and the beer was flowing. Lee did have a going concern.
The band and dance floor were a bonus. And what a bonus it was.
The women finally went on break, the older one
stopping at a table to say hello to some people. The younger one went to plop
down next to a super -sized young buck at a table near the band stand where a
glass of pop was already waiting. A boyfriend, of course. The guitar queen
headed for the bar, stopping for a quick word here and there, deflecting a fat
lounge lizard, nodding and smiling at something another patron said.
She came up to the end of the bar next to J.
J. and Lee. “Great job as always, Bonnie,” Lee said.
“Thanks,” she said. Then to the bartender,
“Got my Diet Coke, Madison?”
“On its way,” the woman said and got busy
getting her drink.
“You’ve got a great band,” J. J. said to
Bonnie.
“Thanks, we try,” she said. Her smile was stop
sign. Not Interested so don’t even try.
What did he look like? Some middle-aged,
desperate horn toad? He was just being friendly. There was no need to give him
the ice treatment.
He decided to turn the charm up a notch. “I
always wanted to meet a mermaid.”
“Now you have,” she told him, still with the
stop sign smile. The bartender set down her glass and Bonnie thanked her, the
ice melting from her smile. But it was back again for J.J. “Try the garlic
fries here,” she said to him. “They’re great.” Then she left before he could
get in another word.
Mermaids were not so easy to catch.
“Don’t put her on the welcoming committee,”
J.J. muttered.
“Told ya,” said Lee.
Slick and charming and no ring on his finger,
which, considering his age which she figured to be somewhere around hers,
probably had to mean he’d ditched a wife somewhere along the way, Bonnie
decided as she walked to the band table. With those blue eyes and that red hair
and matching, neatly trimmed beard, he looked like some kind of troubadour from
the Elizabethan era. Add broad shoulders and a well sculpted chest and he was a
regular pheromone factory.
And that stupid line about catching a mermaid.
Oh, yes, he was a charmer.
Who did that remind her of? Rance Jackson, of
course.
Let’s get to know him, urged her sex-starved
hormones.
Not happening, she informed them. This was the
kind of man who broke hearts – trouble in Levis. There would be no getting to
know him.
Put a Mr. Yuck sticker
on him and stay far away.
About
the Author
USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila
Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance
to self-improvement. Over three million books have been sold to date. Her humor
and heart have won her a legion of fans and her novels have been turned into
movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not out dancing
with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found writing
about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends and
chocolate.
Website: http://www.sheilasplace.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funwithsheila/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheilarobertswriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilarobertswriter/
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